Located in Portugal’s magnificent Douro Valley, the world’s oldest wine-producing region, the Six Senses Douro Valley is steeped in the romance of 19th-century architecture. Six Senses has made well-being its trademark, and this establishment is naturally one of the best hotels in Europe for taking time out for yourself. It impresses with its expertly supervised sleep program. The icing on the cake: wine tastings to keep your partner busy while you relax in the spa!
Two reasons to go there without hesitation: the Douro Valley near Porto is, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Europe, and the Six Senses luxury hotel that has set up there has become the flagship of the Portuguese hotel industry. A brand of ultra-luxury resorts born in Asia and the Indian Ocean, Six Senses has been expanding in Europe over the past few years, bringing its philosophy of well-being to our shores, much to our delight.
The hotel is housed in a magnificent 19th-century manor house set amidst vineyards, tastefully restored in a modern style. It offers majestic views over the Douro valley.
The resort’s 8-hectare estate boasts 57 accommodation options, from 40m² rooms to 95m² suites, not to mention a number of apartments and villas for those who appreciate space and total privacy.
Rooms feature king-size beds, non-allergenic pillows and marble bathrooms. The bedding is impeccable, the decor meticulous, and there’s a very serene atmosphere throughout. You’d almost want to spend the whole day in the room, but that would be to miss the essential: the surrounding nature and, of course, the Six Senses spa!
The resort organizes dinner and wine cruises on the Douro, and visits to nearby vineyards. If you like, you can step back in time and tread the grapes barefoot during the harvest… For the more active, mountain bikes and kayaks are available to explore the region.
A spa where time stretches out
The spa occupies 2200 m² and features 10 treatment rooms and a beautiful heated indoor pool with water jets. Naturally, the fitness room is equipped with the latest Technogym machines.
The prevailing feeling in this magnificent spa is thesoft, warm atmosphere created by the use of eco-friendly materials such as stone and wood. What about the outdoor pool! Large, lined with comfortable deckchairs, it offers beautiful views over the Douro valley.
One of the resort’s original features is the Alchemy Bar. It’s a herbalist’s shop where customers are invited to play sorcerer’s apprentice ! Potions based on herbs, salt, grapes and a range of exotic ingredients are combined to make unique blends that can then be used for their own scrubs or face masks. All these ingredients come from the hotel’s own vegetable and herb garden. It’s short-circuit cosmetics.
Yoga fans, you’ve come to the right place, as it boasts several renowned teachers. A vast terrace allows you to practice your favorite activity outdoors when the weather permits, and an indoor room with a green wall allows you to practice the rest of the time.
The spa offers a wide range of massages and facials, inspired by Asian traditions: shiatsu, ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Six Senses quality every time.
Wellness programs combining cutting-edge technology and ancient traditions
If you’re in need of a complete overhaul, or if you suffer from sleep problems, a stay at Six Senses Douro Valley will do you a world of good. The resort offers a number of wellness programs that skilfully combine theuse of sophisticated diagnostic equipment with the magical touch of highly qualified therapists.
In fact, the spa is equipped with biomarker measuring devices that enable the on-site experts to understand what your body needs. This concern for personalizationis repeated for those with sleep problems, as a sleep cycle measurement device is offered for two nights to provide tailored advice. Last but not least, a device developed by Biologique Recherche, the Skin Instant Lab, provides an in-depth diagnosis of your skin’s condition, enabling you to apply the right cosmetics to restore its radiance.
Among the various programs on offer are :
- The sleep cure : Designed with American professor Michael J. Breus, nicknamed the “Sleep Doctor”, the cure offers a personalized protocol to improve sleep through yoga nidra, meditation, dedicated treatments, dietary advice and sports coaching.
- Yogic detox: a program that combines hatha yoga, guided meditation and breathing techniques with detoxifying treatments.
- The fitness program: personalized coaching with training sessions of varying intensity and recovery phases with dedicated treatments.
Whichever program you choose, you’ll return rested and re-energized, with a boosted immune system!
A vast choice in the kitchen
The resort includes several restaurants that draw their ingredients from the estate’s organic vegetable garden.
The Vale de Abraao restaurant serves seasonal, regional cuisine. The open kitchen, with its wood-fired oven for baking bread and traditional dishes, lets you watch the chef at work. You can also take a cooking course to learn how to prepare the best Portuguese recipes. This is also where you’ll have breakfast, the hardest part being choosing from the many options on offer.
The Dining Room restaurant serves inventive cuisine. In summer, you can dine in a secret destination, with tables nestled in the woods by the river.
Last but not least, the Wine Library & Terrace is the perfect place to enjoy tapas and the finest wines in the early evening.
Read our article: We tested the Six Senses Douro Valley for you.
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Book (with Luxe Wellness Club advantage)
Contact us to benefit from our expertise and advice on exceptional wellness breaks, always at the best rates.
Luxe Wellness Club special offer: benefit from a room upgrade for bookings up to March 31 each year.
Rates: From around 600 euros per night in winter and 1000 euros per night between April and October. Wellness and sleep programs available at extra cost.
Call us for the USA: +1 (646) 980 6652 or for the UK: +44 20 4577 3258 to discuss your holiday plans.
